Magnetic razor conditioning and device therefor



Nov. 25, 1930. J. s. FORBES 1,783,012

MAGNETIC.RAZQR CONDITIONING AND DEVICE THEREFOR Filed March 17, 1927 1%: 55 x 's F 7 21 g 1 N A 150 x 51 7L A l 52 INVENTOR:

cT01 7/72/ S. Fbrbes BY W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATET OFFEQE JOHN S. FORBES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO YATES & GRANT, INCL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN MAGNETIC RAZOR CONDITIONING AND DEVICE THEREFOR Application filed. March 17, 1927.

My invention relates to magnetic razor conditioning and devices therefor. I aim to provide a simple device, that can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and will produce the maximum possible improvement on a razor blade. How this and other advantages can be realized through my invent on will appear through my description herelnafter of selected and preferred embodiments.

In the drawings, Fig. I shows a vertical section through one form of device suitable for the purposes of my invention, taken as indicated by the line I-I in Fig. II.

Fig. II shows a vertical section through the device at right angles to Fig. I, taken as 1ndicated by the line IIII in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a view similar to Fig. I, illustrating a different construction.

Fig. IV is a view of the device from the left of Fig. I, with one wall of its casing removed and one of the mechanical parts omitted.

Fig. V is a tilted view of one of the parts shown in Fig. I.

Fig. VI is a side view illustrating a variation of the forms of device shown in Fig. III. I

Fig. VII is a fragmentary tilted view of a portion of the casing, illustrating a ratchet suitable for the form of the device illustrated by Figs. III and IV.

Fig. VIII is a view similar to Fig. I, illustrating still another construction.

Fig. IX is a view similar to Fig. II, showing a vertical section at right angles to Fig. VIII taken as indicated by the line IX-IX in that figure.

The device shown in Figs. I and II comprises a generally rectangular casing 10, which in the present instance completely encloses the means for creating and applying the magnetic influence, here shown as comprising one or more magnetic members 11, 12 extending lengthwise of the casing, against its opposite vertical walls, These members 11, 12 afford space between them for the width of a razor blade 13 (here shown as of the familiar double-edged safety-razor type), lying with its opposite edges in close proximity to said members 11, 12 throughout Serial No. 176,197.

the length of said edges. The magnetic members 11, 12 may be themselves magnetized, and of opposite polarity: as shown in Figs. I and II, they consist of the parallel legs of a horseshoe magnet whose bend 15 lies at the lower end of the case 10. The upper ends of said members 11, 12 lie against lateral shoulders 16, 16 at the upper angles of the case.

As shown in Figs. I and II, there is a support or shelf 17 for razor blades to be treated in the upper end of the case 10, between the ends of the members 11, 12, consisting of a plate with its edges engaged in grooves in the inner sides of said members 11, 12. At one end of the compartment above this support 17 is an opening 18 in the corresponding (front) wall 19 of the case 10, for insertion and removal of razor blades 13. As here shown, there is a carrier 20 for blades 13, consisting of a plate with an upstanding flange 21 at its outer (front) end, to afi'ord a convenient hold for manipulating it, and a couple of upstanding projections or lugs 22 for engaging in the usual openings in such blades, so as to hold them in definite position on the carrier 20. The projections 22 have the form of circular flanges punched up from the carrier plate 20. This carrier 20 can he slid in and out of the case 10 through the opening 18, like an ordinary drawer. It not only serves as a convenient means of inserting and removing razor blades 13, but also, as here shown, maintains them in a central position between the members 11, 12, with their edges out of contact with the latter, though very close indeed to them. As here shown, there are a couple of flanges or ridges 23 depending from the upper end of the case 10 below the tops of the blade holding projections 22, 22. They prevent the blade 13 from lifting out of engagement with the projec tions 22, 22, while affording clearance to permit free movement.

In order to make the straightening influence of the magnetic attraction on the edges of the blade 13 more effective, provision may be made for vibrating the apparatus or the blade l3,or bothwhile the blade is under treatment. The particular means of doing this shown in Figs. I and II comprises a crank shaft mounted in bearings 26, 26 in the front and rear casing walls 19, 27 and carrying a peripherally acting ratchet wheel 30, shown in Fig. II as provided with four teeth. The ratchet acts against the end of a- U shaped leaf spring 31, here shown as attached by rivets 32 to one of the magnetic members 11, 12,-rather than to the wall of the case 10. As shown in Figs. I and II, the ratchet wheel forms part of a sleeve 33 secured fast on the shaft 25 by a diametral pin 34 inserted through said sleeve and shaft and bent over at 35 to secure it. The other end of the sleeve 30 lies adjacent one bearing 26. A spacing sleeve '36 maybe interposed between the other bearing 26 and the ratchet 30.

Vv hen the shaft 25 is turned in the only direction permitted by the ratchet mechanism, theratchet 30 snaps the free end of the spring 31 and sets the members 11, 12 into vibration, which is communicated to the sup port 17, carrier 20, and blade 13. I

In practice, the magnetic members 11, 12 may consist of the legs of a steel horseshoe magnet, as already intimated. The case 10 may be made of any suitable non-magnetic material, such as a moldable composition or compound like bakelite, and the parts 17, 20 may be of non-magnetic material such as brass. The parts of the vibrating mechanism may consist of any suitable metals or materials, either magnetic or non-magnetic. The bearings 26, 26 may have the double peripherally flanged form shown in Fig. I, and i may be molded in the front and rear casing walls 19, 27. As shown, the rear wall 27 may be made separate from the rest of the casing,

to facilitate assembly of the parts. 'In the present instance, the end-edges of the shelf 17 lie'behind the front and rear walls 19, 27,

so that the shelf is definitely secured in place. I

The constructions illustrated iii-Figs. III

to VII differ from that of Figs. I and II principally as regards the vibratory ratchet mechanism. As shown in Figs. III to VII, this mechanism is of an axially acting type, instead of peripherally acting, as in Figs. I

and II. In Figs. III to V, the crank shaft f 25 has a squared portion 37 on which is en 'gaged a square sheet metal sleeve 38, with freedom for easy play lengthwise of the shaft The front end of the sleeve 38 carries a crown type of ratchet comprising two double acting bevel teeth 39 adapted to engage correspond ing double acting beveled crown teeth 40 on the front casing wall 19 of the casing 1O,v The around the corresponding bearing 26. bearings 26 are shown as having single central flanges embedded in the material of the walls 19, 2"? A helical spring 41 surrounding the sleeve 38 acts in compression between the crown ratchet 39 and the rear casing wall sembly of the parts.

When the shaft 24 is rotated in either direct-ion by the crank 42, the ratchetsleeve 38 is caused to ride up over the ends of the teeth 40 and drop into their spacesagain. The, succession of impacts vibrates the front casing wall19, and this vibrationis transmitted to the shelf 17, carrier 20, and razor blade 13, as well as to the magnet members 11. 12.

In Figs. VI and VII, a ratchet sleeve is dispensed with, and the spring 41 made'to answer the same purpose. As here shown, this spring 41 is secured fast to the shaft '25 at its left hand end, by means of a pin 45, while its right hand end 46 is free and projects radially outward from the shaft. This end 46 engages a single acting crown ratchet 40 (here shown as of four teeth) formed on the front casing wall 19 around the corresponding'bearing 26 IV hen the shaft 25 is rotated in the only direction permitted by the ratchet mechanism the spring end 46 rides up the ratchet projections 40 and drops over their ends,'thus setting the front wall 19' and the other parts of the device into vibration.

As shown in Figs. VIII and IX, the vibrating means comprises a vertically reciprocating hammer 50 whose ends are mounted in ways 51. on' the front and rear casing walls 19 and 27. This hammer 50 may be urged upward by any suitable means,'such as a bowed leaf spring 52 acting between the lower edge of the hammer and the magnet bent 15, and. here shown as secured to the hammer at its middle by a pin or bolt 53. Across the interior of the casing 10,'from front to rear, is a tubular guide 54, located directly above and in line with the hammer 50. The closed rear end of the guide tube 54 is secured to the rear casing wall 27 by a rivet 55, while its open front end may extend into an opening in the front casing wall 19. As shown, the upper edge of the hammer 50 is serrated ortoot-hedat 56. A circular tooth 57 is mounted on the inner end of a sleeve 58 that surrounds the guide 54 and extends out through the hole in the front casingwall 19 and a helical compression spring 59 acts between the inner, rear closed end of the guide tube 54 and the outer, front closed end 7 the more or less independent parts of the blade edge yield more readily to the uncurling straightening influence of the magnetic force. The action may be illustrated by comparing the blade edge after use to a rug shawl whose fringe has become tangled,- the more or less curled and intercrossed portions of the blade edge corresponding to the tufts of the fringe. To straighten the fringe, it may suffice to allow the shawl to hang free, so that the gravity shall tend to pull its tufts out straight. If, however, the tufts persist in adhering to one another, this adherence may be overcome and broken up by shaking the shawl, so as to break up the interadhesions of the tufts and allow gravity to pull each tuft straight,without impediment from any other tuft or tufts. In my device, the action of the magnetic influence on the minute portions of the blade edge corresponds to the action of gravity on the fringe and the vibration produced by any of the various ratchet mechanisms corresponds to the shaking of the shawl.

In practice, the blade may be treated in the device, with vibration, for about one half a minute, and then turned edge for edge (and preferably side for side at the same time) and the treatment repeated, likewise with vibration.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of magnetic blade-edge treatment which comprises subjecting the edge concurrently to a straightening magnetic influence and to vibration.

2. The combination with means for applying a straightening magnetic influence to a blade edge of means for concurrently vibrating the blade.

3. A device of the character described comprising a magnetic member, means for vibrating it, and means for holding a razor blade with its edge in proximity to said member.

4:. A device of the character described comprising a magnetic member, means for holding a razor blade with its edge in close proximity to said member, and means for vibrating said holding means and blade.

5. A device of the character described comprising a magnetic member, a razor blade support lying substantially normal thereto for supporting a blade with its edge in close proximity to said member but out of contact therewith, and means for vibrating said support.

6. A device of the character described comprising a razor blade and magnetic members adapted to receive said razor blade edgewise between them, and means for vibrating the aforementioned parts while the blade is thus under treatment.

7. A device of the character described comprising a horseshoe magnet, means for holding a razor blade between its legs with its edges in close proximity thereto, and means for vibrating the magnet.

8. A device of the character described comprising a pair of magnetic members, a razor blade support across the gap between them, and means for vibrating said support.

9. A device of the character described comprising a pair of magnet poles, a support across the gap between their ends, a razor blade carrier insertible on said support between the pole ends, and means for vibrating said support and carrier.

10. A device of the character described comprising a case with an opening for endwise insertion of a razor blade, a magnetic member in close proximity to a blade so inserted in said case, and means for imparting vibration to said ease and blade.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 3rd day of March, 1927.

JOHN S. FQRBES. 

